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I guess as one of the few vocal Southerners here, I should answer this Dylanfanatic - 17/01/2003 11:18:20 AM

The state is not fundamentalist, since they've made laws about no religion in schools and stuff like that. However, look at the Bible-belt. Perhaps your proximity to it may blind you, but the attitude of the Southern states is quite extreme; at least, compared to Britain it is.

Yours, .


Chomsky is correct to a degree. While the intensity varies from region to region (South and Midwest being perceived as more puritanical than the Northeast and West Coast), there really are traits in the American popular culture that are more religious-based than what one would find in say Europe.

The commercials, while becoming more racy, still do not show the levels of nudity/profanity that have appeared in other countries, if I remember correctly. On network TV, there are still censors who ensure that direct hints of intercourse (e.g. couples naked, bed gymnastics) are not shown at all. A couple of decades ago, couples could not be shown in the same bed on TV, or the man had to be in a sitting position with at least one foot on the ground. No joke.

In the South, there are many Southern subcultures, so to refer to the mores of one would be to ignore those of other parts. I grew up in an area that's rapidly changing from a traditional rural/industrial area to a much more cosmopolitan makeup, due to a huge influx of migrants from most parts of the US for the jobs in computers and heavy industry (Dell and GM being two big examples). There are attitudes there that are different from say Cordele, Georgia (which by the way is the Watermelon Capital of the World, if you didn't know that ). People in the Nashville area are more likely to be tolerant of people with piercings, tattoos, gays, etc. than would people in the rural region.

But if you look at the country as a whole, we do have prejudices that are based on religious beliefs. This nation has largely condemned explicit practices due to religious traditions and beliefs. If that is what Chomsky is referring to and I believe that he is, then yes, the US is very much fundamentalist. Whether it's as pejorative of a term as Chomsky believes is up to the reader though.


Dylanfanatic

Illusions fall like the husk of a fruit, one after another, and the fruit is experience. - Narrator, Sylvie

OF Blog of the Fallen




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Noam Chomsky - 16/01/2003 10:22:46 PM 255 Views
I think Chomsky has some axes to grind...so I think he's off the mark *NM* - 16/01/2003 10:25:05 PM 3 Views
Re: Have you read much of him? - 16/01/2003 10:27:38 PM 18 Views
Yeah - 16/01/2003 10:31:12 PM 21 Views
Just a question, since I'm a bit out of my depth - 16/01/2003 10:46:33 PM 22 Views
Re: Mostly, it means Fanatical. - 16/01/2003 10:49:53 PM 23 Views
Alrighty, then - 16/01/2003 10:54:56 PM 16 Views
Re: Okay, thanks. *NM* - 16/01/2003 11:00:13 PM 1 Views
LOL! - 16/01/2003 10:59:57 PM 31 Views
Re: Yes. - 16/01/2003 11:07:48 PM 24 Views
I don't agree. - 17/01/2003 12:12:33 AM 21 Views
Re: Fair enough. - 17/01/2003 10:32:20 AM 16 Views
Um.... I don't think you caught onto my point. - 18/01/2003 04:27:53 AM 14 Views
Re: Thanks for the thoughtful replies. - 18/01/2003 11:55:18 PM 5 Views
My old roommate was a big chomsky fan. - 17/01/2003 12:48:30 AM 23 Views
Re: How would you support his statement? *NM* - 17/01/2003 10:34:08 AM 2 Views
Noam Chomsky - the left-wing lunatic - 17/01/2003 02:30:14 AM 22 Views
Actually I think he's more of an anarchist. From what I've read. - 17/01/2003 08:53:48 AM 12 Views
Re: Thanks. - 17/01/2003 10:38:29 AM 15 Views
He's talking about the Bible-belt. - 17/01/2003 04:48:58 AM 25 Views
Re: Really? - 17/01/2003 10:52:05 AM 32 Views
I guess as one of the few vocal Southerners here, I should answer this - 17/01/2003 11:18:20 AM 19 Views
Re: Culture - 17/01/2003 11:26:17 AM 15 Views
Examples - 17/01/2003 11:41:42 AM 16 Views
My school system is easy to fool, and I'd quite like to read your post - 17/01/2003 02:19:36 PM 15 Views
I can sum it up here, in a few words instead - 17/01/2003 02:38:32 PM 10 Views
I'd agree, but I'd change one word. - 17/01/2003 03:55:22 PM 7 Views
True enough... - 17/01/2003 04:02:10 PM 6 Views
But the Racism/sexism is due to their version of Xtianity - 17/01/2003 03:03:47 PM 12 Views
Fair point. Just pls don't tar me or other Xtians with the same brush. *NM* - 17/01/2003 03:58:25 PM 3 Views
Yeah, but... - 18/01/2003 04:45:37 AM 7 Views
Re: Yeah, but... - 18/01/2003 05:11:38 AM 6 Views
Re: Those are rather flimsy. - 17/01/2003 07:08:33 PM 6 Views
Not really - 17/01/2003 07:36:24 PM 11 Views
Re: A few quickies. - 17/01/2003 08:42:11 PM 5 Views
Nah, those were just extreme examples - 17/01/2003 09:16:03 PM 11 Views
Re: Okay, thanks for your views. - 18/01/2003 11:56:58 PM 4 Views
I guess I see something different in his comment than most... - 17/01/2003 01:34:00 PM 10 Views
Re: Americanization, and I'm not sure I see your point. - 17/01/2003 07:13:00 PM 3 Views
Re: Americanization, and I'm not sure I see your point. - 17/01/2003 07:49:03 PM 9 Views
religious fundamentalism? - 17/01/2003 06:25:27 PM 5 Views
Re: I think you are. - 17/01/2003 07:19:27 PM 7 Views
he's insane *NM* - 19/01/2003 10:44:00 PM 1 Views